GOLDEN AXE: THE DUEL ARTICLES

September 25, 2008 - Ever since SEGA announced its decision to abandon the hardware game and focus solely on software, it's reached deep into its enviable heritage for inspiration. Few game houses have such a staggering back catalog, and you can hardly blame SEGA for taking advantage of it between its recent attempts at launching new franchises or publishing games outside its accepted comfort zone. This fall, SEGA is returning to a once-popular series that has been essentially dormant since 1995: Golden Axe.
Released into arcades in 1989, Golden Axe was an instant hit. SEGA already had a successful action game inhaling quarters at the arcades, Altered Beast, and Golden Axe helped underline SEGA's continued dominance in the arena. But more than just an arcade smash, SEGA saw the potential for Golden Axe at home. Golden Axe would be quickly prepped for the then-new Genesis, giving it yet another stunning arcade translation that put further distance between the aging NES and SEGA's brand-new 16-bit machine.
After a bright run that included sequels and side stories, SEGA let the series burn out for almost 13 years. With Golden Axe: Beast Rider about to drop on October 17, IGN Retro is taking a look back at a franchise that started strong and lost a lot of luster over the years before it was ultimately shelved for well over a decade.

July 8, 2008 - RetroCity is back -- and about to go to E3. Episode 8 tracks some of the retro revivals we're hoping to see at E3, such as Golden Axe: Beast Rider and Bionic Commando. Is this the start of another round of re-imagined classics? Plus, listen to three more classic game tracks, including the title theme to Cinemaware's Defender of the Crown.